Multiple jumping device

ABSTRACT

A spring-powered device which, after being properly set, is placed on a support surface and the device then jumps upwardly several times. The device includes a body member which may have any one of several configurations thereto, e.g., an animal or a bug. A frame is included and has a row of suction cups attached thereto. Additionally, a broad elongated spring is included which has one of its ends attached to the frame, with the other of its ends being free to assume a curled disposition when relaxed. The spring normally curls downwardly away from the frame, and urging the spring into a straight disposition is effective to engage the suction cups therewith. The suction cups sequentially release respective portions of the free end of the spring to yield a snapping action against a supporting surface with each release which causes the device to jump repeatedly.

United States Patent Wigal [54] MULTIPLE JUMPHQG DEVICE [72] Inventor: Voorhis F. Wigs], Box 1542,

Jackson, Tenn. 38301 [22] Filed: March 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,158

[52] US. Cl ..46/l29 [51] Int. Cl. ..H63h 13/02 [58] Field of Search ..46/l29, 119, 120, 145; 272/8 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,181,113 11/1939 Adams ..46/l29 Primary Examiner-Louis G. .Mancene Assistant ExaminerD. L. Weinhold Attorney-John R. Walker, Ill

[57 ABSTRACT A spring-powered device which, after being properly set, is placed on a support surface and the device then jumps upwardly several times. The device includes a body member which may have any one of several configurations thereto, e.g., an animal or a bug. A frame is included and has a row of suction cups attached thereto. Additionally, a broad elongated spring is included which has one of its ends attached to the frame, with the other of its ends being free to assume a curled disposition when relaxed. The spring normally curls downwardly away from the frame, and urging the spring into a straight disposition is effective to engage the suction cups therewith. The suction cups sequentially release respective portions of the free end of the spring to yield a snapping action against a supporting surface with each release which causes the device to jump repeatedly.

5 Clain's, 7 Drawing Figures mimenma mm FIG.

2| FIG. 2

MULTIPLE JUMPING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to simple jumping toys.

2. Description of the Prior Art A preliminary patentability search revealed the following U. S. Patents: Nebel US. Pat. No. 1,657,936; Woolworth US. Pat. No. 1,858,426; Adams US. Pat. -No. 2,I8l,l l3; and Lemelson US. Pat. No. 2,885,824. None of the above references show or suggest applicants device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The concept of the present invention is to provide a spring-powered device which, after being properly set, is placed on a support surface and the device then jumps upwardly several times. The device includes a body member which may have any one of several configurations thereto, e.g., an animal or a bug. A frame is included and has a row of suction cups attached thereto. Additionally, a broad elongated spring is included which has one of its ends attached to the frame, with the other of its ends being free to assume a curled disposition when relaxed. The spring normally curls downwardly away from its frame and urging the spring into a straight disposition is effective to engage the suction cups therewith. A slide is included for urging the spring into a straight disposition. Additionally, either the suction cups or the surface or the spring which the suction cups engage preferably is roughened to allow passage of air into the suction cups for reducing the holding time thereof. The suction cups sequentially release respective portions of the free end of the spring to yield a snapping action against the supporting surface with each release which causes the device to jump repeatedly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device of the present invention showing the spring in a straight disposition.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device as depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. I having portions thereof removed to show the spring as it would appear after being released by the first suction cup.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 3 showing the spring as it would appear after being released by the second suction cup.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 4 showing the spring as it would appear after having been completely released by the suction cups.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken as on the line VI--VI of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken as on the line VII- VII of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device 11 of the present invention includes a body member 13 which may have any one of several configurations thereto, e.g., an animal or a bug. The

body member 13 may be formed from any suitable material, such as plastic or the like.

An elongated frame 15 is included and is preferably formed from plastic or the like. The body member 13 is fixedly attached to the frame 15 fore and aft by a pair of cross members 17 as depicted in FIG. 7 of the drawing. The frame 15 preferably includes fore and aft upwardly protruding portions 19 which attach the main body of the frame 15 to the cross member 17. From FIG. 7 of the drawings, it may also be seen that the main body of the frame 15 is wider than is the protruding portions 19, thus both sides of the main body of the frame 15 are unobstructed for reasons yet to be disclosed. The device ll. preferably includes legs 21 for supporting the body member 13 a distance above a supporting surface S. Other features (not shown) may optionally be included, e.g., wings, antennae, and eyes, for imparting more realism to the device 1 l.

A spring 23 is included for causing the device 11 to make multiple jumps in a manner yet to be disclosed.

The spring 23 is shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings in a v relaxed disposition wherein it may be seen that the spring 23 normally assumes acurled disposition when relaxed. From FIGS. 2, 6'and 7 of the drawings, it may be seen that the spring 23 has a broad surface thereto, and one end thereof is provided with an aperture 25 for receiving a rivet 27, i.e., the frame 15 also being provided with a suitable aperture for receiving the rivet 27. In this manner, one end of the spring 23 is fixedly attached to the frame 15 and the opposite end thereof is free and normally curling downwardly and away from the frame 15 as clearly shown in the drawing.

A series of suction cups 29 are included which are suitably attached to the frame 15. In other words, each of the suction cups 29 includes a shank portion 31 (FIG. 6) and a head portion 33 integrally attached thereto. The frame 15 is provided with a plurality of apertures 35 for respectively receiving the shank portions 31 of the suction cups 29.

From FIG. 1 of the drawings, it may be seen that when the spring 23 is urged into a straight disposition and placed adjacent the frame 15, the suction cups 29 are engaged therewith, i.e., the width of the spring 23 exceeding the diameter of each of the suction cups 29 and the suction cups being arranged in a row as clearly shown in the drawings. FIG. 6 of the drawings shows the acting surface of the suction cups 29 provided with scratches 37 for reducing the time that they will remain attached to a smooth surface. FIG. 7 of the drawings depicts another method for reducing the holding time of the suction cups 29, i.e., the smooth broad surface of the spring 23 being roughened, as with scratches 39. In other words, either the suction cup 29 is provided with scratches 37 or the spring 23 is provided with scratches 39 to reduce the holding time of the suction cups 29.

The device 1 1 also includes a slide 41 for urging the spring 23 into a straight disposition. From FIG. 6 of the drawings, it may be seen that the slide 41 includes inwardly directed flange members 43 which engage the upper surface of the frame 15 adjacent the sides thereof and is free to slide to and fro along the length of the frame 15. The slide 4E also includes a bar member 45 and a pair of finger grip members 47. The members 47 straddle the frame 15 and the bar member 45. However, the bar member 45 is slightly longer than the width of the frame 15 to allow the slide 41 to freely slide to and fro. From FIG. 6' of the drawings, it may also be seen that the spring 23 is sandwiched between the bar member 45 and the frame 15; Therefore, slidable movement of the slide 41 from the position depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings outwardly to a position depicted in FIG. 1 of the drawings is effective to uncurl the spring 23 and engage the suction cups 29 with the spring 23 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

In order to prevent the slide 41 from becoming disengaged from the frame 15, a pair of slide stops 49 are attached to the frame adjacent the forward end thereof, as clearly shown in the drawings. Also included is a handle 51 which may be gripped by the fingers of one hand while moving the slide 3 with the finger grip members 47 in a manner previously described. The handle 51, being formed from plastic or the like, is fixedly attached to the frame 15 3 Q the rivet 27 in any well known manner, as with suitable adhesives or the like.

Placing the device llv into operation simply involves sliding the slide 41 from the position depicted in FIGS. 3-5 of thedrawings to the position depicted in FIG. I of the drawings, as above described, then returning the .slide 41 to the position depicted in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings. The device 11 is then placed on the supporting surface S and the spring 23 is now constantly pulling on the first suction cup 29 until eventually the suction cup 29 releases the outer portion of the free end of the spring 23 to yield a snapping action against the supporting surface S and cause the device 11 to jump upwardly from the supporting surface S and finally come to rest in a position substantially as depicted in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Eventually, the second suction cup 29' will release another portion of the spring 23 adjacent the free end thereof and the spring 23 again yields a snapping action against the supporting surface S and will cause the device 11 to jump upwardly from the supporting surface and come to rest to aposition substantially as depicted in FIG. 4 of the drawings. Eventually, the third suction cup 29" will release still a greater portion of the free end of the spring 23 which will yield a third snapping action against the supporting surface S and cause the device 11 to jump upwardly for a third time from the supporting surface. The device 1 1 may or may not come to rest at a position substantially as depicted in FIG. 5 of the drawings, depending upon the tension of the spring 23. I have found that the device 11 will completely leave the supporting surface S and usually makes a 360 loop before falling upon the supporting surface S, i.e., in which case the device 11 usually comes to rest in a horizontal position with the front legs 21 thereof supporting the front portion and the curled spring 23 supporting the rearward end. It will be noted that as spring 23 is sequentially released'from the suction cups 29, 29, 29" portions of the spring extend farther and farther downwardly from frame 15 after the successive releases take place so that the frame 15 is progressively tilted upwardly at greater angles. Thus, note that the angle of frame 15 is greater in FIG. 4 than in FIG. 3, and greater in FIG. 5 than in FIG. 4 so that the bug or animal represented appears to successively rare up for greater leaps as time progresses. Also, it should be noted that the forces may be progressively greater and the effect progressively different as the spring.23 is sequentially released from the suction cups. This is due to the fact that the center of gravity in relation to the point where the force is exerted is changing and the moment of force of the spring is changing due to different release points.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A multiple jumping device comprising -a body member, frame means for supporting said body member, means attached to said frame means for supporting said body member a distance above a supportframe means for gripping said broad surface of said spring means, urging said spring means into a straight disposition'adjacent said frame means being effective to engage said suction cup means therewith, said series of suction cup means being arranged in a row for sequentially releasing portions of said free end of said spring means to yield a snapping action against the supporting surface with each release which causes said device to jump repeatedly from the supporting surface.

2. The device of claim 1 in which is included slide means for urging said spring means into a straight disposition, said slide means engaging said frame means and being free to slide to and fro along the length thereof, said spring means being sandwiched between a portion of said slide means and said frame means, slidable movement of said slide means being effective to uncurl said spring means and engage said suction cup means with said spring means.

3. The device of claim 2 in which is included stop means for limiting the travel of said slide means.

4. The device of claim I in which said spring means is substantially rectangular in shape when in said straight disposition and said suction cups being spaced along a portion of the length of said spring means.

5. A multiple jumping device comprising a body member, frame means for supporting said body member, spring means for powering said body member, said spring means having a proximal end and a distal end, attachment means attaching said spring means adjacent said proximal end to said frame means; said spring means being inherently resilient and including portions, normally when unrestrained, being spaced downwardly away from said frame means; a first suction cup means coupled to said frame means and spaced from said attachment means a predetermined distance, a second suction cup means coupled to said frame means and spaced from said attachment means a shorter distance than said predetermined distance, said spring means being movable against the inherent resiliency thereof to a first disposition in engagement with said first suction cup means and said second suction cup means for subsequent sequential release from said first suction cup means to a second disposition and then for release from said second suction cup means,

when in said second disposition portions of said spring means being spaced farther downwardly from said 

1. A multiple jumping device comprising a body member, frame means for supporting said body member, means attached to said frame means for supporting said body member a distance above a supporting surface, spring means for powering said jumping device, said spring means assuming a curled disposition when relaxed and having a broad surface thereto with one end thereof being attached to said fraMe means and with the opposite end being free and normally curling downwardly and away from said frame means, and a series of suction cup means attached to said frame means for gripping said broad surface of said spring means, urging said spring means into a straight disposition adjacent said frame means being effective to engage said suction cup means therewith, said series of suction cup means being arranged in a row for sequentially releasing portions of said free end of said spring means to yield a snapping action against the supporting surface with each release which causes said device to jump repeatedly from the supporting surface.
 2. The device of claim 1 in which is included slide means for urging said spring means into a straight disposition, said slide means engaging said frame means and being free to slide to and fro along the length thereof, said spring means being sandwiched between a portion of said slide means and said frame means, slidable movement of said slide means being effective to uncurl said spring means and engage said suction cup means with said spring means.
 3. The device of claim 2 in which is included stop means for limiting the travel of said slide means.
 4. The device of claim 1 in which said spring means is substantially rectangular in shape when in said straight disposition and said suction cups being spaced along a portion of the length of said spring means.
 5. A multiple jumping device comprising a body member, frame means for supporting said body member, spring means for powering said body member, said spring means having a proximal end and a distal end, attachment means attaching said spring means adjacent said proximal end to said frame means; said spring means being inherently resilient and including portions, normally when unrestrained, being spaced downwardly away from said frame means; a first suction cup means coupled to said frame means and spaced from said attachment means a predetermined distance, a second suction cup means coupled to said frame means and spaced from said attachment means a shorter distance than said predetermined distance, said spring means being movable against the inherent resiliency thereof to a first disposition in engagement with said first suction cup means and said second suction cup means for subsequent sequential release from said first suction cup means to a second disposition and then for release from said second suction cup means, when in said second disposition portions of said spring means being spaced farther downwardly from said frame means that when in said first disposition. 